Om utgivelsen
In their 20th year as the leading jazz orchestra of Northern Norway, Tromsø Big Band releases their third and, by far, most ambitious album until now: “69° 39′ NORTH”. With three original works, all composed by the bands musical director Fred Glesnes, the listeners embark on a voyage to Tromsø and through the Arctic.
Tromsø Big Band has collaborated with an impressive list of internationally renowned jazz musicians throughout the years. However, on this album we experience the pure blend and sound of the bands own members, of which several also stand out independently as brilliant soloists.
2024 marks the 20th anniversary of Tromsø Big Band, and is a natural occasion for the release of their third album. The result has become a homage to Tromsø – the New York of the High North. Fred Glesnes has been the musical director of the ensemble since the beginning, and on this record we are presented three of his works that have all been especially composed for the band.
Glocal is the largest of these three, with almost 25 min music across 3 movements. Constructed through a combination of the words global and local, the title aims to reflect Tromsø’s position as the capital of Northern Norway and how the diverse population and international relations influence the city and its inhabitants. It was premiered on Tromsø Jazzfestival in August 2022.
Arcticification – Dochakuka in reverse borrows its inspiration from the Japanese term dochakuka, which translated may signify a merger of global and local elements, or local adjustments to a larger trend. Reversing this, by weaving local characteristics together with global expressions, the local flavour may be amplified. At the premiere on Nordlysfestivalen in 2024, Randy Brecker was the guest soloist.
In Traffic is the oldest of the three works, originally premiered in 2009 and featured as the title track on the bands first release in 2011. With most of the same band members on both the old and the new records, we get a unique impression on how the band has evolved – the ensemble, as well as the musicians independently.
Fred Glesnes is an acclaimed musician and composer, and teaches jazz at the music conservatory of Tromsø. He received the prestigious big band award Storbandprisen in 2023, and Nordlysprisen in 2024.
Recorded live at Tromsø Kulturhus 24th – 26th Sep. 2023. Mix by Arild Johnsen, LP Studio Tromsø. Mastered by Arnsten Fossvik, Audiomaster. Produced by Fred Glesnes. Supported by the municipality of Tromsø and Sparebank1 Nord-Norge Samfunnsløftet. The composition Glocal was supported by Det Norske Komponistfond, and Arcticification – Dohakuka in reverse, was supported by Kulturdirektoratet. Artwork & photos: Knut Åserud
Musikere
Fred Glesnes - Musical director, composer, tenor sax, flute
Rolf Figenschau - Alto sax
Øyvind J. Karstad - Alto sax
Frode Nilsen - Tenor sax
Sondre A. Kleven - Baritone sax, bass clarinet
Torbjørn Ingvaldsen - Trombone
Rolf-Gunnar Monsen - Trombone
Karoline Thomassen - Trombone
Håkon Rasmussen - Trombone
Vidar Alvestad - Trumpet, flugelhorn
Christian Hyld - Trumpet
Bengt Haugseth - Trumpet
Morten B. Strøm - Trumpet
Thomas Ragnar Larsen - Guitar
Joakim Kristiansen - Bass
Einar Berg-Olsen - Piano
Ole-Morten Indigo Lekang - Drums
Tobias Solheim-Nilsen - Vibraphone, percussion
